Shipments of wearable devices in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region reached 1.13 million units in the third quarter of 2018 (Q3 2018), according to the latest insights from IDC. The global technology research and consulting firm’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker shows that shipments were up 77.6% on the corresponding period of 2017 and up 50.0% on the previous quarter.

The
market witnessed various new product launches in Q3 2018 from brands
such as Fitbit, Huawei, and Garmin, which all helped spur growth in the
basic wearables category. A large number of shipments from Xiaomi,
particularly to Turkey and the UAE, was another driver of basic
wearables growth in the region. Xiaomi launched its first flagship store
in Turkey and shipped large number of basic wearables to the country,
alongside other consumer devices such as PCs and smartphones.

“The
basic wearables category has been growing for a number of years now and
the new features and functionalities added to the basic watch category
are proving attractive to the first-time users,” says Ayse Kaptanoglu, a
senior research analyst within IDC’s devices group. “These users will
invest in upgrades over the coming years as they become used to the
convenience of using smart wearable devices. As such, the market
presents a clear opportunity for new players, which is why various
fashion brands are now looking to enter this space and tap into the
growing demand.”

“However, affordability remains the biggest issue in the META region,” continues Kaptanoglu. “Most countries are price sensitive due to fluctuating exchange rates, rising inflation, low consumer confidence, and other unfavorable macroeconomic conditions, all of which are causing some consumers to postpone their purchases. While demand for connectivity will spur the market for smart wearables, which are mainly supplied by Apple and Samsung, pricing will play a critical role in determining buyer behavior in this space. Despite these issues, IDC expects the young population’s strong interest in new technologies to keep demand for wearables alive in the region.”